Apple and Samsung will enter talks aimed at settling their differences over a wide-ranging legal dispute in the smartphone and tablet industries that has clogged the courts of many countries.

Apple and Samsung will enter talks aimed at settling their differences over a wide-ranging legal dispute in the smartphone and tablet industries that has clogged the courts of many countries.

The two technology heavyweights have been at each other's throats since Apple accused Samsung of “slavishly copying” its designs for the iPhone and iPad last year. Samsung responded with a countersuit and the two have been engaging in a courtroom tug-of-war ever since.

The lawsuits have clearly taken their toll on both companies, with temporary bans imposed on each other's products and their reputations taking a hammering in the public eye, with many seeing the battle as an abuse of patent laws.

The bitter rivals look prepared to possibly bury the hatchett once and for all, however, and US District Judge Lucy Koh has referred them to a magistrate judge in San Francisco to lead discussions about ending the dispute.

The settlement talks will involve Apple's CEO, Tim Cook, and Samsung's CEO, Choi Gee-sung, as well as both their general counsels.

It is not yet clear how much each company is prepared to give in order to put this spat behind them, but the negotiations will more than likely involve the idea of withdrawing tit-for-tat lawsuits to allow both companies to compete freely again. Whether or not either firm want assurances against copyright infringement, design changes, or monetary payments remains to be seen.